I’m not normally a big fan of the martial arts ‘how to’ guide but this recent one published about the first six katas in the Shotokan Karate programme is one of the best I’ve read. It is a detailed and intelligent work explaining the historic, cultural and physical background to Karate which also contains high quality and detailed pictorial explanations of the katas that are so essential to Shotokan. Mr Croft says in his introduction that, “The more one delves into the forms the more fascinating they become.” The reader cannot help but share Mr Croft’s enthusiasm and absorption into his martial art as even the martial arts reader who doesn’t currently practise Shotokan Karate will find sections of interest and may find themselves searching for local Shotokan classes after they’ve finished reading.

One of the reasons this ‘how to guide’ works is the detailed chapters given at the beginning that the reader can get their teeth into; this isn’t just a picture book. We are given an in-depth historic background to the origins of Karate, the Shotokan style and its derivatives as well as its earlier Chinese predecessors in the form of Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Detailed biographies of Karate’s main players are included as well as some fascinating anecdotes about the origins of White Crane Boxing and even Indian martial arts.

The chapter concerning ‘Vital Point Striking Areas’ is worth buying the book alone as this is useful to any martial artist, Karate practitioner or not. Mr Croft stresses that, “the study of vital points is essential in unravelling and understanding the kata.” It makes reference to the historic Shaolin text of ‘Bubishi’ with its pictorial diagrams and clear explanations that makes the katas seem a real and practical self-defence tool as well as being an aesthetic work of art. It certainly made me think about my own martial art’s techniques and applications more than any other text I’ve read.

However, the main focus of Mr Croft’s work is that of the katas’ bunkai - the self-defence applications of this fascinating martial art. The writer has an excellent understanding of the processes the body goes through when learning a physical pattern such as a kata, including being under the stress of violent attack and therefore, “The key is to keep the kata bunkai simple and to practise extensively.” This is done clearly and thoroughly throughout this book with a collection of high quality colour pictures that justifies the cover price.

Shotokan Karate: Unravelling the Kata is an essential read for any student of Shotokan and an interesting one for any other martial artist.

Author Profile: Lesley Jackson

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Lesley Jackson, black belt and Taekwondo teacher is deputy Editor of Martial Edge.

Also by Lesley Jackson:

• Sneaking under the Wire
• Michael Muleta on ITF Taekwondo
• Jamie Clubb the Ealy Years